Pepper mill



July 13, 1954 J. w. BENTLEY PEPPER MILL Filed June 16, 1951 INVENTOR.

JOHN W- BENTLEY A T T'oR N EYS Patented July 13, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to improvements in a pepper mill; and it has particular reference to a mill adapted for p-ulverizing or grinding peppercorns, and discharging the reduced particles of pepper directly upon the article to be seasoned. It consists of the combinations, constructions, and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of this invention is to produce a mill of the character described, which will thoroughly and effectively grind come of pepper during the operation thereof; dispensing the particles of pepper under regulated control; precluding the mill from clogging; and accomplishing effective grinding regardless of the amount of peppercorns contained in the mill.

More specifically stated, I provide a mill of the reciprocating plunger type, in which the plunger is fashioned with a broacning section arranged to coact with a die or anvil for crushing the peppercorns. This plunger not only serves to pulverize or grind the corns of pepper, but regulates the dispensing of the ground pepper onto the food to be flavored. The grinding action is the same, irrespective of the length of strokes imparted to the plunger, or the amount of corns remaining in the mill.

As a still further object, I propose to provide a pepper mill that is simple in construction and operation; easily filled or cleaned; efiicient and durable for the purpose intended; and having a pleasing and attractive appearance.

Other objects and advantages will be set forth as the specification continues, and the novel features of the invention will be pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

Drawing For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of my pepper mill;

Figure 2 is a vertical central sectional view taken through the mill, with parts being shown in elevation;

Figure 3 is a transverse horizontal sectional view taken along the plane III-III of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a view corresponding to the lower portion of Figure 2, but disclosing the plunger in depressed position.

While I have shown onl the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changes, or modifications, may be made Within the scope of the annexed claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

Detailed description Referring to the drawing in detail, I provide a barrel or holder indicated generally at A. This barrel is fashioned with a bore B of irregular outline, extending from the base It to the top ll of the barrel. It will be noted from Figure 2 that a transverse disc or partition C is adapted to be inserted into this bore from the base of the barrel until this disc abuts a horizontal annular shoulder [2 provided in the bore. Thereafter, a snap retaining ring D is inserted into a circumferential groove bl formed in the barrel interior and disposed immediately below the disc, thus securing the latter in place.

Moreover, I provide a base plug E, which is insertable upwardly in the bore B until it butts against an annular shoulder 15 formed therein. For the purpose of anchoring the plug E in the bore, I make use of a resilient retaining clip F that is adapted to be snapped into engagement with a circumferential groove it formed just below the bottom rim of this plug.

As shown in Figure 2, a compartment or chamber i7 is defined in the bore of the barrel between the disc C and the base plug E for the storage of peppercorns l8. This plug carries a die or anvil G against which these corns are crushed during downward strokes of a reciprocating plunger H in the manner hereinafter described.

In its structural features, the die or anvil G includes a cylindrical upper section [9 having a reduced extension 20 projecting from the bottom thereof. The base plug E is fashioned with a stepped bore 2| extending axially therethrough and adapted to snugly receive both the section I 9 and its extension 20 of the die. The upper ends of the plug E and the die Or anvil G are provided with frusto-conical surfaces 22 and 23, respectively, which register with one another and converge downwardly on a gradual taper toward the axially-disposed plunger.

It will be readily apparent that the sloping surfaces 22-23 will cause the peppercorns to gravitate into a frusto-conical throat 24 that surrounds the lower part of the plunger. This throat presents a rather steep sloping surface that converges downwardly and merges into an opening 25 extending to the bottom of the die. As illustrated in Figure 4, the reduced particles 26 of pepper are discharged from this opening, and descend through the open mouth 21 of the 3 bore B for dropping directly upon the article or food to be seasoned.

The actual grinding or reduction of the peppercorns is accomplished by a broaching section H! provided on the lower part of the plunger, which section coacts with the throat 24 and opening 25 of the die or anvil for shearing the corns. This broaching section defines spacedapart annular ribs 28 of uniform diameter arranged at intervals along the lower length of the plunger, and intervening grooves 29 provided between adjacent ribs. Both the ribs and grooves extend circumferentially around the plunger. It will be observed that these ribs are cylindrical and define sharp shearing edges adapted for cutting the corns of pepper upon depressing the plunger.

At least one of these ribs is disposed in the outlet opening 25 of the die or anvil at all times for the purpose of guiding the broaching section L of the plunger. It will be clear from Figures 2 and 4 that the diameters of the ribs 23 correspond with the diameter of the opening 25, and thus the ribs will bear against the wall of this opening to guide the broaching section during its reciprocation.

Particular attention is called to the fact that the grooves 29 are designed in such a manner as to prevent clogging with pepper and diminishing the efilciency of the mill. by making the widths of the grooves between adja-cent ribs sufiicient in distance while maintaining the grooves shallow enough that any fragments of pepper could not wedge between these ribs. As the ribs move below the bottom of the 1 reciprocation of the latter, but further provides an abutment 32 extending partially over the throat 24. This abutment is positioned to prevent partly-crushed peppercorns from being dragged upwardly out of the throat 24 during the up or return stroke of the plunger. However, sufiicient space is afiorded between this abutment and the upper end of the throat 24 to allow the peppercorns to gravitate into the throat for reduction by the broaching section of the plunger.

For reciprocating the plunger H, I provide a knob at the top thereof for depressing the plunger, and a spring 34 for returning the knob and its plunger to normal position, as disclosed in Figure 2. This knob is guided in the upper portion 35 of the bore B, and may be depressed therein until it comes to rest on the disc or partition C. The upper end 36 of the cylindrical plunger section 33 is arranged to abut an interior annual shoulder 37 fashioned in the shield bore 31 to limit the upward movement of the plunger H and its operating knob 33. Any suitable means may be employed for anchoring the knobs to the plunger. The length or" the stroke of the plunger is such that the plunger must project into the opening 25 to prevent free discharge of pepper particles through the latter.

It will be found convenient to depress this knob by finger or thumb pressure of the operator to This is accomplished "K control and regulate discharge of the pepper particles. The barrel A has an annular groove 38 extending around its upper portion, and the operators fingers may be engaged in this groove to provide a firm grip on the barrel while actuating the knob. Thus the mill may be operated by one hand of an individual.

The plug E is formed with a depending skirt 3%, which bears against the wall of the barrel defining the lower portion of the bore B. This skirt terminates in an inwardly-projecting annular lip or flange 40, which may be engaged by the operator when withdrawing the plug E from the barrel A to allow the mill to be filled.

In Figures 2 and 3, the resilient retaining clip F has been shown as having diametricallyopposed arcuate sections 4| and 42 that are interconnected by a straight bar 43. The section 42 is extended to provide a finger-engaging loop 44, which is disposed below the general plane of the sections il and 42 for ready grasping thereof. When installing this clip, the section 4! is inserted into the groove It just below the bottom of the lip 48. Ihen the loop 44 is moved toward the section 4! until the section 42 can be moved upwardly into the groove l6 disposed diametrically opposite the section 4i. Thereafter, pressure on the loop 34 is removed, causing the sections l42 to become anchored in this groove.

In order to remove this resilient clamping clip, the operator merely moves the loop 44 toward the section 4: until the section 42 is disengaged from the groove. At this time the clip F may be lifted out of the barrel, thus allowing the base plug E and its die or anvil G to be withdrawn. The slip fit of the base plug provides for easy insertion of the base plug into the barrel or removal therefrom.

Ground pepper cannot fall from the bottom of my mill after the latter has been used and then placed back on a table or the like. This is due to the fact that the broaching section Hi telescopes into the throat of the die or anvil G, and at least one of the ribs 28 bears against the wall of the outlet opening 25 at all times. It is necessary to actually depress the plunger H in order to dispense ground pepper from the mill.

The grinding or pulverizing action of my mill is the same, regardless of whether a full length or partial stroke is imparted to the plunger. In this connection, it will be seen that the broaching section HI is uniform in construction throughout its length; accordingly, it presents the same type and area of broaching surface in all positions.

Any downward motion of the plunger, either full or partial, is capable of grinding whole peppercorns or fragments thereof. The mill will function properly, even with a small amount of peppercorns contained therein. The horizontally-disposed ribs 28 tend to crowd the corns into the frusto-conical throat 24, reducing the tendency of the corns to back out of the die. Of course, the weight of the peppercorns in the upper part of the compartment or chamber l1 acts to force the lower corns into the throat 24 for abrading action by the breaching section.

The shield J prevents partially-ground corns from being pulled out of the die and mixed with the whole corns during the up stroke of the plunger. This precludes fragments of the corns from being carried into the upper part of the compartment ii and becoming stale. Furthermore, the shield assures more positive grinding action of the peppercorns.

In order to simplify and enhance the appearance of the mill, only the barrel A and the knob 33 normally are exposed to exterior View, the remaining parts being hidden within the interior of the mill.

The plunger H is held against the distortion at three separated places along its length, namely: (a) the lower ribs 28 have a sliding fit with the wall defining the outlet opening the intermediate cylindrical section of the plunger is guided by the bore 3| of the shield J; and the cap 33 at the top of the plunger is guided in the upper portion of the bore of barrel (see Figure 2).

Summary of operation The operation of my pepper mill is summarized briefly as follows:

When filling the compartment or chamber I! with peppercorns IS, the retaining clip F is removed. Thereafter, the operator grasps the annular lip and Withdraws the base plug E and its die or anvil G. This presents a relatively large opening 27 through which the peppercorns may be inserted into the interior of the barrel A. Now the plug and its die are replaced and the clip F reinserted in the circumferential groove I6 so that the parts will occupy the positions shown in Figure 2.

The individual grasps the upper part of the barrel A in one hand, utilizing the annular groove 38 to assure a firm grip on the barrel. Finger or thumb pressure is applied to the knob 33 so as to depress the plunger H. This will cause the broaching section HI and the die or anvil G to crush the peppercorns disposed in the frustoconical throat 2E. Particles 26 of this ground pepper will be discharged through the outlet opening 25, as suggested in Figure 4, and will drop through the open mouth 27 directly upon the food to be seasoned.

Upon releasing the pressure on the knob 33, the spring 34 will move this knob and the plunger H upwardly. However, the upper end 36 of the cylindrical section 30 of the plunger will strike the interior shoulder 31 of the guide-like shield J, preventing the lower end of the plunger from being withdrawn entirely from the opening 25. Thus the annular ribs 28 at the lower end of the plunger prevent further discharge of the pepper particles. As the plunger H moves upwardly, the abutment 32 on the shield prevents partiallycrushed pepper particles from being withdrawn from the throat 24. The plunger H is guided in its reciprocation so as to withstand lateral distortion.

I claim:

In a pepper mill of the character described: a one-piece barrel having a bore extending upwardly thereinto from its base; this bore having an annular shoulder formed therein above the base of the barrel, and a second annual shoulder of a reduced diameter formed thereon at a greater distance above the base of the barrel; a partition bearing against the second annular shoulder and having a central opening therein; means removably securing the partition in place; a reciprocable plunger slidably mounted in the partition opening; a knob afiixed to the top of the plunger; the knob having an expanded upper end; spring means disposed between the partition and knob for urging the plunger upwardly; the plunger having means for limiting the upward movement of the plunger; a combined base plug and pepper reducing die slidably telescoped into the bore from the barrel base and resting against the first-named annular shoulder; the die having a cylindrical discharge bore therein; means for removably securing the base plug in position; the reciprocable plunger having a broaching section slidably mounted in the discharge bore; the largest diameter of the broaching section being no greater than the diameter of the discharge bore; whereby the combined base plug and pepper reducing die may be removed through the base of the barrel, the discharge bore moving clear of the broaching section during this movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 18,144 Heiermann Aug. 4, 1931 56,063 Keep et al July 3, 1866 59,406 Keep Nov. 6, 1866 274,255 Barr Mar. 20, 1883 311,197 McNair Jan. 27, 1885 430,661 Levi June 24, 1890 539,468 Zehetner May 21, 1895 1,208,099 Cornell Dec. 12, 1916 1,965,919 Beeger July 10, 1934 2,479,151 Bostick Aug. 16, 1949 2,535,913 Galvin Dec. 26, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 754,792 France Aug. 28, 1933 804,555 France Aug. 3, 1936 233,427 Switzerland Oct. 16, 1944 662,519 Great Britain Dec. 5, 1951 

